We recently inherited a china cabinet and buffet from my husband’s grandmother. It’s good stuff, solid wood (cherry), not particle board and laminate.
It was stored in her attic for many years, behind some other furniture and boxes; in fact her daughter (hubby’s aunt) thought someone else had taken it.
The problem is that it stinks. Mostly musty, slightly cigarette-smokey, but with something else, kinda nasty-smelling underneath. I’ve searched a few household hint sites, and they suggest putting either kitty litter or baking soda in the drawers for a few days, or as a last resort lightly sanding the interior.
Anyone else have this problem? How did you solve it?
What worked best for you? Any other ideas?
Are you willing to spend money on it? There are places which will clean and/or refinish wooden furniture, but the costs can be pretty steep, and if these are heirloom-quality antiques, cleaning or refinishing can reduce their monetary value. Just something to consider.
My theory, without having seen (or smelled) the stuff myself, is that the unfinished wood in the drawers and perhaps on the insides has gotten damp, which has allowed mildew and other bacteria to flourish. The only cure that I know of the helps in these situations is open air and sunlight. Take out all the drawers on a sunny, dry day and let them air & dry out completely, covering the panels that are finished. In the meantime, I’d go over the body of the cabinet and buffet with some Murphy’s Oil Soap or similar. I use Murphy’s stuff on my wooden things, and it works very well. They have a troubleshooting section on their website, which you might want to check out, too.
Good luck!
I agree with Beadalin. Murphy’s Oil® and sunlight are two very good ideas. My best guess is it is the unstained, matte-finish parts of the wood that stink the worst, since they are the most absorbent.
After a couple good scrubs with the Murphy’s® and letting it sun-dry, I suggest “masking” the odor with either a cedar or juniper oils. Both will deter moths and are lovely smells to encounter first thing in the morning while dressing for work.
Then, for the stained parts, I suggest “sealing in” the odors with a finishing wax like Minwax® which is very easy to apply, much like car wax, and has the same effect on wood, leaving it shiny and “new-looking”. It also has a nice odor.
I hadn’t even thought about putting it outside.
Thanks!
I looked all over the pieces and there is no mildew, but could it still smell from bacteria? I think maybe a mouse or squirrel may have died in the attic and the smell got in it. There are no weird spots or stains anywhere, just a smell.
There are some scratches on the top of the buffett, so maybe I will have to take it to a refinisher or a pro. I don’t know how valueable it is, but I know it’s well-made, and solid wood. It all weighs a ton.
I guess it will be worth it to have it fixed right.